Folding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a folding bathroom sink toilet system that saves space and water. The folding sink has the same width as the toilet tank and is not visible when in folded position. This system can be installed on top of the lid of any toilet on the market. The system includes: a sink made of different materials with or without art design; a semicircle drain outlet and sink overflow assembly with elastic and bendable head coupling the sink and toilet tank; a collapsible cabinet and washing platform to hold toothbrushes and other items; an adjustable hinge to hold the sink in the folding or deployed position; a dual-float water valve with pipe tee to control sink water supply to toilet tank; a water level indicator with three adjustable floating switches showing toilet tank&#39;s water in full, half full or empty; push-button switches for adding water to the toilet and flushing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to saving water used to flush toiletand space in a bathroom. The conventional toilet directly uses waterfrom pipe. In this invention, water from bathroom sink is reused toflush toilet. Unlike other invention this invention further conserveswater by allowing the user to choose the amount of water needed to flushthe toilet. The folding bathroom sink toilet system is a novel conceptthat not only saves space in the bathroom, but also is a very convenientsystem that put the major devices in the bathroom together, providing anew concept for everyday use in the bathroom

2. Description of the Background

Saving bathroom water is one of the ways to conserve water in modemsociety, especially in areas where there are constant shortages ofwater. Many inventions have been declaimed to save water in the house,For example, there are a few water saving inventions that reuse water inbathroom.

For example: U.S. Pat. No 6,425,148 to Chen; Jung-Hua issued Aug. 17,2001 shows a water-saving device for a toilet comprises a tank, a tanklid mounted on top of the tank, a sink formed on the sink andcommunicated with a chamber in the tank via a hole in the sink, and anoutput tube having a lower end communicated with an inlet tube and anupper end for supplying water into the sink. A guide tube is mounted inthe tank and comprises an upper end communicated with the hole of thesink and a lower end immersed in the water in the chamber of the tanksuch that drainage of water in the sink via the hole of the sink and theguide tube into the chamber of the tank is almost silent.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,481 to Martinello; Settimo issued Mar. 20, 2008shows System for the recovery of washing liquids used in showers, washbasins, and/or baths, including a first decantation tank provided withat least one inlet connected to a downflow point of washing water, asecond collection tank, an overflow partition wall adapted to separatethe two tanks, a sewer drainage at the bottom of the decantation tank,adapted to be closed by a plug that can be raised by a float in thecollection tank according to the liquid level therein, a drawing pump inthe collection tank, controllable by a relay, or electrical float,indicating the liquid requirements of a fixture, a pipe connecting thepump of the collection tank with the fixture, the relay, or electricfloat, electrically connected with the pump and a valve of the fixtureand controlled by a float in the collection tank for closing theelectrical power supply to the pump and opening the electrical powersupply of a valve for liquid flow to the fitting.

There is however no invention that directly reuses water from bathroomsinks for the purposes of toilet flushing. In a bathroom where space islimited, a space-saving bathroom sink will provide more space for otheruses in everyday life. The new invention of a folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system provides the functionalitymentioned above. This invention links the functionality of a combinedbathroom sink and toilet system with the ability to reuse sink water forthe purposes of toilet flushing.

References Cited 6425148 August 2001 Chen 7927481 March 2008 Martinello

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide afolding concealed bathroom sink for saving both space and water inconjunction with conventional toilets. This folding bathroom sink toiletsystem sits on the top of lid of any kind of toilet tank either existingin a bathroom or bathrooms in newly built houses, folds for space-savingand deploys for use above a toilet.

This new device is intended to control both the amount of water added tothe toilet water tank and the water used for toilet flushing.

It is another object to collect water from everyday use and to storewater in a conventional toilet for a second use. New device is inventedto control both the amount of water added to the toilet tank or waterfor flushing toilet.

It is another object to provide a space-saving bathroom sink by puttingthe sink on top of a toilet tank. The space-saving feature of the sinkis further improved by making it foldable to the width of a conventionaltoilet tank.

It is another object to save time and cost by combining a bathroom sinkand a toilet. The new invention uses only a single water tap pipe systemincluding one cold water inlet pipe, one hot water inlet pipe, and onedrain pipe for both bathroom sink and toilet, saving one cold waterinlet pipe and one drain pipe when compared to conventional bathroom.This in turn saves more space for the bathroom.

It is another object to reduce work needed to clean blocked drain pipesin a conventional sink system with a trap pipe under the sink wherewaste material such as hair is usually gathered. The new inventionconducts water from sink to the toilet water tank which links to hugedrain pipes to avoid blocking drain pipe.

It is another object to reduce pollution from chemicals needed to cleanblocked drain pipes in a conventional sink system where a trap pipeunder the sink usually collects waste material such as hair. The newinvention conducts water from the sink to the toilet water tank whichlinks to larger drain pipes thus avoiding any drain pipe blockage andtherefore no chemicals are needed.

It is another object to make the bathroom a more enjoyable place. In thefolded position the folding bathroom sink covers all items on thestorage platform, making the bathroom appear neater, cleaner and moreorderly. The art design on both sides and back of the bathroom sinkallows one to put different kinds of art photos, especially on the backof the sink which faces outside when the sink system is in the foldedposition.

It is another object to provide an easy to install and disassemblebathroom sink toilet system. Anyone using a screw driver can install thesink by attaching four screws to the wall above the bathroom toilet. Therest of the setup can be completed manually. The opening and closing ofthe folding bathroom sink can be operated by a single handle due to themechanic holding and connecting.

It is another object to provide a safe sink platform, since the twosupporting legs, along with the mounting screws in the wall, providesadditional support of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention can be understood with reference to the followingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a main view of the folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system stowed and fully in integralcabinet enclosure against a wall and standing over a conventional toiletaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a top view of the folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a left side view of the folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a left side view of the folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system deployed for use from theintegral cabinet enclosure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a main view of the folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system deployed for use from theintegral cabinet enclosure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a top view of the folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an abstract drawing of the folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system stowed and fully in integral cabinetenclosure against a wall and standing over a conventional toiletaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that illustrates the dual-float controlled waterfill valve component with pipe tee for both toilet tank and sink watersupply in the toilet tank.

FIG. 9 is a drawing that illustrates the toilet inner water levelindicator with three adjustable floating switches.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are drawings of the sink and components with artdesign on both sides and back.

FIG. 11 is a drawing that illustrates the semicircle drain outlet andoverflow assembly.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are drawings of the folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system that illustrate the controlling componentsoutside the toilet tank (102) for adding water to the toilet tank (102)and flushing the toilet (101) with a full or a partial tank of water.

FIG. 13 is a partially exploded view drawing of FIG. 12B illustratingthe collapsible cabinet.

FIG. 14 is a drawing of a top view of the adjustable supporting hingeillustrating the adjustable supporting hinge and hinge pin.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1: 101 toilet, 102 toilet tank, 103 toilet tank lid, 104 sinkwith art design on both sides and back, 105 washing platform for sink,106 fold-down legs, 107 handle for washing platform.

In FIG. 5: 501 collapsible cabinet, 502 cold and hot water faucet, 503cold water tap, 504 hot water tap.

In FIG. 8: 801 a dual-float controlled water fill valve component withpipe tee for both toilet tank and sink water supply, 802 cold waterinlet, 803 supply cold water pipe tee, 804 low water level float, 805high water level float, 806 spring paddles, 807 actuating arm couplingwater-stopping valve and water level floats, 808 water-stopping valve,809 sliding low water level lock, 810 sliding high water level lock, 811locking pin for setting the position of low water level float, 812 lockresetting spring, 813 valve platform.

In FIG. 9: 901 water level indicator with three adjustable floatingswitches in toilet tank, 902 wire connecting LED indicators and floats,903 empty tank water level float switch, 904 half tank water level floatswitch, 905 full tank water level float switch, 906 adjustable floatingpin, 907 empty tank water level LED indicator, 908 half tank water levelLED indicator, 909 full tank water level LED indicator.

In FIG. 10: 1001 sink basin seat, 1002 water retaining board, 1003 waterretaining board for photo frame at the back of sink, 1004 sink overflow,1005 drain outlet, 1006 meshing ball.

In FIG. 11: 1101 semicircle drain outlet, 1102 elastic and bendablehead.

In FIG. 12, 1201 power outlet, 1202 push-button switch for adding halftank of water, 1203 push-button switch for adding full tank of water,1204 push-button switch for flushing half tank of water, 1205push-button switch for flushing full tank of water.

In FIG. 13: 1301 washing platform inner inclined plane. In FIG. 14, 1401adjustable supporting hinge, 1402 adjustable supporting hinge pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are the perspective illustrations of the foldingspace- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system. The foldingbathroom sink overtop 102 the toilet tank has the same width of thetoilet tank, and the inner side of 104 the sink is not visible when itis in the folded position. When the folding bathroom sink is deployedfor use, it extends to the front edge of the toilet so the toilet iscovered and not visible from atop. This system can be installed on 103the lid of any kind of toilet on the market.

One-hand operation pulling 107 the handle for washing platform allowsone to unfold the space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system.This operation also lays down 106 the fold-down legs, allowing 105 thewashing platform for sink to be fully extended. All items in 501 thecollapsible cabinet and the inner side of 104 the sink with art designon both sides display in front of users. The operation process isprovided by 1006 the meshing ball as shown in FIG. 10 and 1306 thewashing platform inner inclined plane as shown in FIG. 13. Used water isdirectly conducted to 102 the toilet tank through 1005 drain outlet Torestore to the folded position for the bathroom sink toilet system oneneeds only to push upward 107 the handle for washing platform as shownin FIG. 1.

For the use of the toilet, one can first check water amount in 102 thetoilet tank through 907, 908, and 909 the water level LED indicators. If907 the empty tank water level LED indicator is on, there is no orlittle reusable water in 102 the toilet tank from 104 the sink. Oneneeds to add fresh water to 102 the toilet tank by pushing either 1202the push-button switch for adding half tank of water or 1203 thepush-button switch for adding full tank of water. Pushing 1202 thepush-button switch for adding half tank of water allows one to add ahalf tank of water to 102 the toilet tank. This is done through a wireconnecting to 809 the sliding low water level lock. The drop of 809 thesliding low water level lock to half the height of 102 the toilet tankwill in turn lower the height of 807 the actuating arm couplingwater-stopping valve and water level floats in 102 the toilet tank andsubsequently open 808 the water-stopping valve for adding water. When804 the low water level float reaches certain height in 102 the toilettank, a spring on 804 the low water level float will lift 807 theactuating arm coupling water-stopping valve and water level floats,locking 808 the water-stopping valve when the toilet tank is half full.804 the low water level float will stop rising due to 811 the lockingpin for setting the position of low water level float.

Pushing 1203 the push-button switch for adding a full tank of waterallows one to add a full tank of water to 102 the toilet tank. This isdone through another wire connecting to both 809 the sliding low waterlevel lock and 810 the sliding high water level lock. The drop of 809the sliding low water level lock and 810 the sliding high water levellock will in turn lower the height of 807 the actuating arm couplingwater-stopping valve and water level floats to the lowest level in 102the toilet tank and subsequently open 808 the water-stopping valve foradding water. When both 804 the low water level float and 805 the highwater level float reach certain height in 102 the toilet tank, both 804the low water level float and 805 the high water level float will lift807 the actuating arm coupling water-stopping valve and water levelfloats to the height so that 809 the sliding low water level lock and810 the sliding high water level lock reset to the location on 813 thevalve platform through 812 the lock resetting spring. This will lock 808the water-stopping valve when 102 the toilet tank is full. Flushing thetoilet which lowers the height of 807 the actuating arm couplingwater-stopping valve and water level floats in 102 the toilet water tankwill not trigger 808 the water-stopping valve. Therefore water will notbe added to 102 the toilet tank automatically.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention,not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the aboveembodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention.

1. A folding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system for usein conjunction with a toilet comprising: a) a sink; b) a drain assemblycomprising a semicircular drain outlet having an elastic and bendablehead and a sink overflow, said drain assembly coupled with said sink anda toilet tank; c) a collapsible cabinet comprising a washing platformfor holding said sink; d) an adjustable supporting hinge for collapsingsaid collapsible cabinet into a folded or a deployed position; e) adual-float controlled water fill valve component having a pipe teecoupled to a toilet tank and a sink water supply for controlling theamount of water to be added into said toilet tank; f) an inner waterlevel indicator having a plurality of adjustable floating switchesindicating variable water levels; g) a plurality of water-addingpush-button switches for adding water at varying levels; and h) aplurality of flushing push-button switches for flushing said toiletusing varying levels of water added by said plurality of water-addingpush-button switches.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The folding space-and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim 3,wherein said drain outlet is connected to edge between the sink bottomand one side of said sink proximate to said toilet tank when saidfolding sink is in said folded position.
 5. The folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid folding sink further comprises a side base coupled to said toilettank and allows the sink to be foldable.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The foldingspace- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim1, wherein said sink from said folding space- and water-saving bathroomsink toilet system has an art design on said folding sink.
 8. Thefolding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recitedin claim 1, wherein said sink from said folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system has a transparent outer wall with a verticalgap in between said outer wall for holding photos, pictures, andpaintings.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim 1, wherein saidcollapsible cabinet (201) and washing platform for sink (105) is engagedwith the sink (104) to form a sliding and complete overall folding. 11.The folding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system asrecited in claim 1 wherein said washing platform further comprises acover for obscuring objects in when said collapsible cabinet is in saidfolded position.
 12. The folding space- and water-saving bathroom sinktoilet system as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable supportinghinge has adjustable supporting hinge pin.
 13. (canceled)
 14. Thefolding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recitedin claim 1, wherein said collapsible cabinet further comprises at leastone fold-down leg for supporting said sink in said deployed position.15. The folding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said drain outlet is at any location alongthe connecting edge between the sink bottom and one side of the sinkwhich is closest to the toilet tank when the folding sink is in thefolded position and the overflow assembly is at the same but upper sideof the drain outlet (1005) on the sink (104).
 16. The folding space- andwater-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid overflow assembly further comprises an inlet configuration with apush button for controlling the discharge of water in said sink.
 17. Thefolding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system as recitedin claim 1, wherein said overflow assembly has a continuous curved elbowmade of elastic material.
 18. The overflow assembly as recited in claim15, wherein said continuous curved elbow further comprises a tee used toconnect the washbasin overflow.
 19. The folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim 1, wherein saidadjustable floating switches further comprising: an empty tank waterlevel LED indicator, a half tank water level LED indicator, and a fulltank water level LED indicator for displaying three different waterlevels in half full, full, or empty for the toilet tank.
 20. Theadjustable floating switches as recited in claim 19, wherein saidadjustable floating switches further comprises a power supply comprisingat least one of a battery, a rechargeable battery, solar energy panels,and electricity.
 21. The folding space- and water-saving bathroom sinktoilet system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a sliding lowwater level lock and a sliding high water level lock coupled with saidwater-adding push-button switches for adding water to said toilet tank.22. The folding space- and water-saving bathroom sink toilet system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said dual-float controlled water fill valvecomponent further comprising: a low water level float for adding a halftank of water to the toilet tank; and a high water level float foradding a full tank of water to the said toilet tank.
 23. The dual-floatcontrolled water fill valve component as recited in claim 22, whereinsaid pipe tee conducts tap water by the use of only one water inlet forboth sink and toilet tank.
 24. The folding space- and water-savingbathroom sink toilet system as recited in claim 1, wherein saiddual-float controlled water fill valve component further comprises awater-stopping valve coupled with said low water level float and saidhigh water level float through an actuating arm.
 25. The dual-floatcontrolled water fill valve component as recited in claim 24, furthercomprising an elevated spring paddle coupled to said low water levelfloat for triggering a water stopping valve by subsequently lifting saidactuating arm.
 26. (canceled)
 27. The dual-float controlled water fillvalve component as recited in claim 24, wherein said actuating armfurther comprising: a sliding low water level lock and a sliding highwater level lock for automatically locking the water-stopping valvethrough lock resetting spring when the toilet tank is full.
 28. Thedual-float controlled water fill valve component as recited in claim 24,wherein said actuating arm is connected to sliding water level locksthrough the lock resetting spring for automatically locking thewater-stopping valve when the toilet tank is full.
 29. (canceled)